Checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy

ABSTRACT

A checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy. The game includes a playing board and playing pieces. The playing board replicates a checkerboard. The playing pieces replicate checkers, have musical note symbols visible thereon, move diagonally on the checkerboard, and jump according to the hierarchy of the musical note symbols of the playing pieces involved in the jump, to thereby learn the musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a checkerboard game, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for music-learning devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a checkerboard game for leaning musical note specific symbols and their associated hierarchy.

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 139,425 to Schindler.

U.S. Pat. No. 139,425 issued to Schindler on May 27, 1873 teaches a game-table including a base, a hollow pedestal, a frame, an adjustable rod carrying the frame, and a table. The table is pivoted in the frame for adjustment to different positions.

(2) U.S. Pat. No. 1,545,842 to Miller.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,545,842 issued to Miller on Jul. 14, 1925 teaches a musical game board including a rectangularly checkered face, a pair of musical staffs near opposite margins of the board, pieces detachably resting and movable in any direction on the board in playing the game. Each piece bears a character identifying it with respect to a particular line or space of the musical staff.

(3) U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,371 to Hearle.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,371 issued to Hearle on Dec. 25, 1962 in U.S. class 273 and subclass 135 teaches a game including a game board having thereon a circular series of alphabetically indicated names of musical notes and a portion of a piano keyboard concentric with the alphabetical series of musical notes. A circular insert piano keyboard has the alphabetical notation of the keys depicted thereon constructed and arranged to fit over the piano keyboard on the game board. The insert has a cutout center portion to receive the alphabetical series of musical notes, and apparatus for selecting musical notes at random from the alphabetically indicated series for placement on the corresponding keys of the piano keyboard.

(4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,935 to Goldfarb.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,935 issued to Goldfarb on Jun. 29, 1982 in U.S. class 273 and subclass 460 teaches an electronic game apparatus that in its preferred embodiment may be used either to play a game of musical concentration or else as a musical instrument. The apparatus is provided with an on-off switch, four mode buttons, and a 5 by 5 keyboard having 24 active designator buttons. When the apparatus is placed in the musical instrument mode, each keyboard button is associated with a different musical note in the chromatic scale. Thus the instrument is capable of playing two full chromatic octaves. When the apparatus is operated in one of its game modes—some of which may be “easy” others “difficult”—a number of different tunes, each having an average length of approximately ten notes, are each assigned by the apparatus at the commencement of a game to a pair of designator buttons of the keyboard in a random or apparently random manner unknown to the players at the game's commencement. For each turn of play, a player depresses a first designator button, hears at least a portion of the tune assigned to that button, and then attempts to match it with the other button also assigned to that same tune by depressing a second designator button.

(5) U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,374 to Bowles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,374 issued to Bowles on Jan. 23, 1990 in U.S. class 273 and subclass 249 teaches an educational board game in which music students learn the names of the lines and spaces on the musical staff and their corresponding keys on the keyboard. The game includes a folding game board, a key finder, instruction cards, dice, and various colored game pieces. The board has a peripheral playing path representing a grand staff. The measures of the grand staff are spaces. Each space has several letter notes. A representation of a keyboard is also provided on the board wherein the keys correspond to the letter notes on the grand staff. The players are each given seven playing pieces. Each piece represents a musical letter note A-G. The object of the game is to advance each piece around the grand staff, moving the allotted spaces or measures, then ultimately moving the pieces to the corresponding keys on the keyboard. Movement to the keyboard is determined by the corresponding relationship between a playing piece and a letter note on the measure occupied by the playing piece, or the following instructions or other procedures.

(6) U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,155 to Gross.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,155 issued to Gross on Oct. 18, 1994 in U.S. class 273 and subclass 284 teaches a board game kit including a loose leaf binder including a bottom panel, a front cover panel, a connecting rib, and several binders. A plurality of board games are removably held by the binders. Each of the board games includes an appendage with a series of binder holes. The boards is installed in the binder and secured at their appendages.

(7) U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,179 to Hoffman.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,179 issued to Hoffman on Mar. 5, 1996 in U.S. class 434 and subclass 433 teaches musical notes in the form of representations of objects or creatures familiar to young children and which connote the name of a tone and are depicted on the musical staff and on instrumentalities that generate the tone.

(8) U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,022 to Ben-Horin.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,022 issued to Ben-Horin on Feb. 4, 1997 in U.S. class 273 and subclass 243 teaches a game for teaching notations including a first game board bearing a representation of musicland. Also, a plurality of lost note game cards are included. Each lost note card forms two sets of game cards, with a front face that has different symbols. Additionally, a second game board bearing a representation of a haunted island is provided. The second game board has a plurality of game squares. Included is a first set of flash cards to match a second portion of the game squares of the second board. Four soldier-display cards are used for placement of the first set of flash cards once they are removed from the second game board. Lastly, a third game board bearing a representation of a mysterious dungeon is included. The third game board has a plurality of dungeon squares and a second set of flash cards for positioning on the dungeon squares. Included are six song display cards that allow the second set of flash cards to be placed thereon once they are removed from the third game board. Furthermore, at least four soldier playing pieces are provided to indicate the position of a player during game play.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for music-learning devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy. The game includes a playing board and playing pieces. The playing board replicates a checkerboard. The playing pieces replicate checkers, have musical note symbols visible thereon, move diagonally on the checkerboard, and jump according to the hierarchy of the musical note symbols of the playing pieces involved in the jump, to thereby learn the musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.

3. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy being played;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the game board of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the playing pieces of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 5 in FIG. 2.

4. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING A. General.

-   10 checkerboard game of embodiments of present invention for leaning     musical note symbols and associated hierarchy

B. Overall Configuration of Checkerboard Game 10.

-   12 playing board -   14 playing pieces -   16 checkerboard of playing board 12 -   18 checkers of playing pieces 14 -   20 musical note symbols

C. Specific Configuration of Checkerboard 16 of Playing Board 12.

-   22 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of checkerboard 16 of playing     board 12 -   23,24 two alternating colors of 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares 22     of checkerboard 16 of playing board 12 -   26 flexible and statically adhering material of checkerboard 16 of     the playing board 12 for allowing checkerboard 16 of playing board     12 to conform to and be played on non-flat surfaces

D. Specific Configuration of Checkers 18 of Playing Pieces 14.

-   28 6 blank checkers of checkers 18 of playing pieces 14

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. General.

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy being played, the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

B. Overall Configuration of the Checkerboard Game 10.

The overall configuration of the checkerboard game 10 can best be seen in FIG. 2, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The checkerboard game 10 comprises a playing board 12 and playing pieces 14. The playing board 12 replicates a checkerboard 16. The playing pieces 14 replicate checkers 18, have musical note symbols 20 visible thereon, respectively, move diagonally on the checkerboard 16, and jump according to the hierarchy of the musical note symbols 20 of the playing pieces 14 involved in the jump, to thereby learn the musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.

C. Specific Configuration of the Checkerboard 16 of the Playing Board 12.

The specific configuration of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic top plan view of the game board of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 3 in FIG. 2, and an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE 4-4 in FIG. 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 contains an 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares 22. The 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares 22 of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 contains two alternating colors 23 and 24. Each of the two alternating colors 23 and 24 of the 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares 22 of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 flow diagonally, and are preferably, one dark color and one light color, but is not limited to that.

The checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 is made of a flexible and statically adhering material 26, preferably, cotton, but is not limited to that, for allowing the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 to conform to and statically attach to non-flat surfaces, such as a bed, but is not limited to that, for playing the checkerboard game 10 on the non-flat surfaces.

D. Specific Configuration of the Checkers 18 of the Playing Pieces 14.

The specific configuration of the checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 can best be seen in FIG. 5, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the playing pieces of the checkerboard game of the embodiments of the present invention identified by ARROW 5 in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

As previously discussed, the checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 have the musical note symbols 20, respectively, visible thereon.

The checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 having the musical note symbols 20, respectively, visible thereon number 24, 12 for each player.

The checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 further have 6 blank checkers 26, 3 for each player, and are without the musical note symbols 20 thereon.

E. Rules for Playing the Checkerboard Game 10.

-   RULE 1: Place the twelve checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 on     every other colored square of the 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares     22 of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12 of the first three     rows of the 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares 22 of the checkerboard     16 of the playing board 12 for each player, with the musical note     symbols 20 visible. -   RULE 2: Set aside the 3 blank checkers 26 of the checkers 18 of the     playing pieces 14 for each player. -   RULE 3: Take turns moving the checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14     diagonally forward, with each player making one move per turn. -   RULE 4: To jump, the checker 18 of the playing piece 14 must be     moved diagonally to an open colored square of the 8×8 matrix of 64     colored squares 22 of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12. A     player may jump his/hers own checker 18 of the playing piece 14 at     any time regardless of the musical note symbol 20 note value. A     player may jump and take an opponent's checker 18 of the playing     piece 14 only when the player's checker 18 of the playing piece 14     has the same or greater musical note symbol 20 note value,     respectively, visible thereon, to thereby learn the musical note     symbols 20 and their associated hierarchy. The musical note symbols     20 note values are as follows:     -   a) whole notes (o) are 4 beats;     -   b) dotted half notes (d_(o)) are 3 beats;     -   c) half notes (d) are two beats; and     -   d) quarter notes (         ) are 1 beat. -   RULE 5: A player may jump multiple times, including the player's own     checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 and the opponent's checkers 18     of the playing pieces 14 in the same turn as long as the opponent's     checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 are of equal or lesser musical     note symbol 20 note value, to thereby further learn the musical note     symbols 20 and their associated hierarchy. Only the opponent's     jumped checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 are removed from the     checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12. -   RULE 6: When a checker 18 of the playing piece 14 has reached the     opposite side of the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12, the     note value of the musical note symbol 20 of the playing piece 14 is     doubled, or “King” the checker 18 of the playing piece 14 by adding     the blank checker 26 of the checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14     underneath the checker 18 of the playing piece 14 that is being     “Kinged.” -   RULE 7: “Kinged” checkers 18 of the playing pieces 14 may make     multiple jumps in any direction. -   RULE 8: The player who has only his/her checkers 18 of the playing     pieces 14 remaining on the checkerboard 16 of the playing board 12     wins.

F. Impressions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention. 

1. A checkerboard game for leaning musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy, comprising: a) a playing board; and b) playing pieces; wherein said playing board replicates a checkerboard; wherein said playing pieces replicate checkers; wherein said playing pieces have musical note symbols visible thereon, respectively; wherein said playing pieces move diagonally on the checkerboard; and wherein said playing pieces jump according to the hierarchy of the musical note symbols of the playing pieces involved in the jump, to thereby learn the musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein said checkerboard of said playing board contains an 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares.
 3. The game of claim 2, wherein said 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of said checkerboard of said playing board contains two alternating colors; and wherein each of said two alternating colors of said 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of said checkerboard of said playing board flow diagonally.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein said checkerboard of said playing board is made of a flexible and statically adhering material for allowing said checkerboard of said playing board to conform to and statically attach to non-flat surfaces for playing said checkerboard game on the non-flat surfaces.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein said checkers of said playing pieces having said musical note symbols visible thereon number 24, 12 for each player.
 6. The game of claim 2, wherein said checkers of said playing pieces have 6 blank checkers, 3 for each player, and are without said musical note symbols.
 7. The game of claim 6, wherein said checkers of said playing pieces are initially placed on every other colored square of said 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of said checkerboard of said playing board on first three rows of said 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of said checkerboard of said playing board for each player, with said musical note symbols visible; and wherein said blank checkers of said checkers of said playing pieces are set aside for each player.
 8. The game of claim 1, wherein said checkers of said playing pieces move diagonally forward, with each player making one move per turn.
 9. The game of claim 1, wherein said checker of said playing piece jumps by moving diagonally to an open colored square of said 8×8 matrix of 64 colored squares of said checkerboard of said playing board.
 10. The game of claim 1, wherein a player may jump his/hers own checker of said playing piece at any time regardless of said musical note symbol note value.
 11. The game of claim 1, wherein a player may jump and take an opponent's checker of said playing piece only when said player's checker of said playing piece has a same or greater musical note symbol note value visible thereon, to thereby learn said musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.
 12. The game of claim 1, wherein a player may jump multiple times, including said player's own checkers of said playing pieces and said opponent's checkers of said playing pieces in a same turn as long as said opponent's checkers of said playing pieces are of equal or lesser musical note symbol note value, to thereby further learn said musical note symbols and their associated hierarchy.
 13. The game of claim 1, wherein only said opponent's jumped checkers of said playing pieces are removed from said checkerboard of said playing board.
 14. The game of claim 6, wherein when a checker of said playing piece has reached the opposite side of said checkerboard of said playing board, said musical note symbol note value is doubled, or “King” said checker of said playing piece by adding said blank checker of said playing pieces underneath said checker of said playing piece that is being “Kinged.”
 15. The game of claim 14, wherein said “Kinged” checkers of said playing pieces may make multiple jumps in any direction.
 16. The game of claim 1, wherein a player who has only his/her checkers of said playing pieces remaining on said checkerboard of said playing board wins. 